Collapsible sandbox for children



March 1954 E. Y. BROWN, SR

COLLAPSIBLE SANDBOX FOR CHILDREN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1950 Ear! K Erato/1,5 n

INVENTOR.

March 23, 1954 BRQWN, 5R 2,673,086

7 COLLAPSIBLE SANDBOX FOR CHILDREN Filed Oct. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATToZA/EY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES raruur OFFICE Application October 16, 1950, Serial No. 190,418

1 Claim. 1,

This invention relates to play equipment for children, and it has particular reference to sand boxesfor very young children, and its principal object resides in the provision of a collapsible sand receptacle formed of a plurality of joinable parts whereby the device can be assembled without the aid of tools and taken apart in the same manneuand it is desirable that the parts be of sheet metal and formed with appurtenances adapting the same to be readily associated into a sturdy unit.

An object of the invention is that of providing a structure which can be conveniently handled, being capable of storage during inclement seasons, and adapted to be quickly reassembled either. inor out of doors, or transported as to vacation resorts, and the like.

Another object of the invention residesin the provision of a unique assembly of parts which can be economically formed andwhich is readily capable of being packed for shipmentin relatively compact packages and, by reason of the few :partsrequired in its structure, assembly of the invention can be accomplished by any unskilled person.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a device which is safe in design, requiring no bolts, screws, or other similar device for assembly, yet affording a rigidly united structure incapable of damage by small children, and presenting no sharp corners, bolts, screws, and similar device by which a child may be injured while at play in the device.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with it the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric illustration of the assembled structure, showing the interlocked arrangement of the parts, and illustrating the adjustable canopy.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention illustrating the difierent adjustments of the canopy.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary illustration of the structural details of the canopy.

Figure 4 is a detailed transverse sectional plan View of one of the adjustable canopy standards.

Figure 5 illustrates the several parts of the unassembled invention, showing the manner in which the parts are assembled and the location i of each, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through one side and part of the floor assembly, and fragmentarily showing part of one of the adjustable canopy supports.

The invention comprises a rectangular recep tacle I!) which is designed to retain fine grained sand and therefore has closely joined parts although such parts are not secured'by such devices as bolts, screws, and the like, but rather comprises an. assembly which can be associated by interlocking and sliding the parts together. The receptacle IE! is formed with side plates II and end plates l2, shownin detail in Figure 5, and these have flanges I 3 along their upper edges which are turned outwardly and downwardly-to form channels it thereunder.

The lower edges of the plates H and I2 also have flanges l5 along their lower edges and these are turned inwardly and upwardly to define channels l6 which function to support a plurality of floor plates I7, shown in Figure 5, and which will be described more in detail presently.

The ends of each of the plates H and 12 are each formed with tabs l8 which are foldedback on the outside of each plate I! and I2, as shown in Figure 5, and these are adapted to slide down into the right-'angularly arranged channels 19 defined in each of the leg members 2i! whose shape is right-angularin::transverse section and the opposing outer edges are folded inwardly to form the channels IS. The broken line in Figure 5 illustrates how the tabs l8 on the plates l l and I2 are received in the vertical channels 19 of the legs 20 so that a sliding interlocking association of the plates H and [2 with the legs 2i! can be quickly accomplished. The flanges It turned downwardly along the upper edges of the plates H and 12 provide stops for these members by engaging the tops of the legs 20.

The bottom of the receptacle l0 comprises a plurality of floor plates 2| and 22, shown in Figure 5, the latter plate, being designed to repose in the center of the assembly, has depending side flanges 23 and end flanges 24. Each of the plates 2] has its inner edge formed with a channel 25 to receive the depending flanges 23 of the plate 22 so that an association of the plates 2! and 22 such as that illustrated in cross-section in Figure 6 will result. The outer edge of each plate 2| has a depending flange 26, similar to the flanges 23, which are received by the channels iii of the side plates H in the manner shown in Figure 6.

The end flanges 24 of the center floor plate 22, and the similar end flanges 21 of the plates 2| are received in the channels [6 of the end plates E2 of the receptacle ii) so that a rigid and closely associated structure is accomplished. The channels 25 provide a complete seal, with the flanges 23 of the floor plate 22, to retain the sand deposited in the receptacle it, as is also true of the association of the floor plates with the end and side plates H and I2 of the receptacle.

A seat member 28 is provided for securement to each end of the assembled receptacle [0 and these are substantially inverted U-shaped in transverse section, having depending flanges 29 and 30 along its sides. Each seat member 28 has a tab 3! formed on each end which is turned downwardly and inwardly, and then upwardly, the inner ends 32 of the tabs 31 being slidably engageable with the channels Hi formed along the upper edges of the side plates I l, as indicated by the broken line in Figure 5. The depending flanges 29 of the seat members 28 embrace the upper edges of the end plates I 2 and consequently anchor the seat members 28 so that these are immovable except when dissembling the structure.

It is desirable to provide a canopy 33 for the receptacle l0 and that the same be adjustably supported by standards 34, each having a pivot 35 near the upper edge and intermediate the ends of the side plates i I, as apparent in Figures 1 and 2. The standards 36 are G-shaped in transverse section and the canopy 33 is slidably secured thereto by keepers 36 attached to each side, a bolt 31' being arranged through each keeper 36, and in the slot 38 of each standard 34, by which the canopy 33 is adjusted to different levels and secured by thumb nuts 39 on the bolts 37.

The lower ends of the standards 34 extend into a keeper member 49 attached to each side plate I I and frictional clamps, to secure the canopy 33 in inclined positions, is afiorded by plates 4| capable of being tightened against the keeper members 40, as shown in detail in Figure 6. The upper keeper assemblies for the canopy 33 are shown in Figure 4.

The canopy 33 is made collapsible by the arrangement shown in detail in Figure 3 wherein is fragmentarily illustrated one of the side supports 42 which has a socket 43 formed on its outer end to receive the interlocking lug M on the end of the rod 45 to which the canopy 33 is attached. Such arrangement will further permit the 001- 4 lapsing of the invention for compact storage or transportation.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of certain changes and modifications, from time to time, by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a collapsible metal sand box for children, the combination comprising a pair of side members and a pair of end members, and in which each of said side and end members are formed at each end with tabs folded outwardly upon said members but spaced therefrom, leg members sup porting the said side and end members, each being angular in transverse section and having flanges folded inwardly along the edges of said legs and spaced therefrom whereby to provide sockets to receive the tabs on the ends of said side and end members and rigidly support the same in a rectangular frame, an upturned flange formed along the lower edge of each of said side and end members, a plurality of floor plates for said frame, each having depending flanges along their ends and sides and capable of engaging the upturned flanges of said side and end members and be supported thereby, and seat members having a sliding interlocking connection with the ends of said side members.

EARL Y. BROWN, SR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Widener July 15, 1947 

